CHAPTER X.
A new spring opened, which brought, besides the blossoms and songs. the brillant gleam of a new era, for which the nations, long opressed by absolutism, had yearned. Metternich fell, censorship was abolished, and an organization of the national defense was permitted. On the fifteenth of April, 1848, the Constitution was proclaimed. The news of this filled Prague and the whole kingdom with rejoicing and exultation.
The National Defense, or Guard, was being established everywhere.
In Vienna, a student legion was formed, and was organized after the manner of the old Roman army; in a short time, this was not the only one in existence.
The tranquillity of quiet Litomyšl flew, God knows where. Everything was upset and changes and subversions occurred unexpectedly, suddenly, almost over night. One message from mother Prague succeeded another, exciting and straining the minds of all. Some welcomed the Constitution with joy, others in hesitation were awaiting further developments, and some, more to one side and under cover, cursed these innovations, and the destruction of the old, established customs.
The registrar Roubínek was unhappy, beside himself. He had not had a moment of rest, for his ultra-conservative spirit feared all experiments, dreaded weakening of discipline and expected a general collapse.
The recorder used to come oftener, but of a “delightful” conversation no trace was left. True, Mr. Roubínek still gazed at king Herod, but he turned his gaze away oftener, for his friend, the recorder, brought such news!
Storms in Vienna, confusion in Prague, mass meetings of the common people, abolition of censorship and of the forced feudal servitude—oh, God,—what will become of the world, what a monster this Constitution is, turning everything upside down!
All around in the neighboring towns guards were organized; there would be one in Litomyšl in no time, and every citizen would take up arms, be given a helmet, and be trained on the Bleachery, stand guard, and attend military training!
That was enough to make a person sick! The registrar could not even rest properly, when, having the “oberst” on, he sat in his easy chair; he did not enjoy even his pipe, in spite of the fact, that Lotty, with her rosy, little finger would press down the tobacco.
Noise and singing was heard from the street every now and then, and from all sides resounded: “nation, country, liberty, equality, Bohemian language. self-government”—“and, who knows how many more watchwords of frenzied brains,” as Mr. Roubínek remarked to the recorder.
God only knows where all those patriots thus came from all of a sudden! They sprang up over night like mushrooms after a rain. Everything was patriotic! Esteem was nowhere, the former respect gone completely! Everybody proudly carried his head higher, as if he had grown in stature by the virtue of that Constitution. Mrs. Roubínek bore it ill that everywhere Bohemian was beginning to be spoken, and that at several places she, with her mixed language, was laughed at. She had an only friend in Mrs. Roller, as her husband in the recorder.
“Bedenken sie. that Lenka! Heretofore always taciturn, stubborn, but now talkative and cheerful. That is all. . .”
“Diese Konstitution! You will see that man wird noch rauben und morden!” (That they will yet rob and murder.”)
And what, then, when Lotty rushed home and brought the news that the philosophers had held a mass meeting, and that they had organized themselves into a student legion!
“Now we are done!” sighed Mr. Roubínek.—“What is it when a child is given a knife or a razor? Swords instead of pens to the students! Now we are done!”
“Und was die Professoren, und was der Pater Rector?” (And what the professors, and what Pater Rector?)
“They can not hinder them.”
“How could they, when not even state authority, not even the ministerial cabinet has any respect!” and Mr. Roubínek’s glance fastened rigidly on king Herod.
With the exception of Zelenka, Miss Elis had seen but little of her students the whole day.—They were eternally at the college, or in meetings of which there was no end. How could Vavřena or Frýbort stay away? In all schools and institutions student legions were being organized or had been organized, and should the philosophy of Litomyšl be the last one? Nobody could hinder them, nor would they have permitted interference. Thus within a very short time, even before the citizens themselves had formed a company of national defense, a student legion was organized. It was led by a captain and elected officers.
The landlady, conversing with Miss Elis, often expressed her fears over the stormy times, “which surely will bring no good.” But the patriotic old lady comforted her, explaining the Constitution to her as best she understood it herself, or as Vavřena had informed her about it. She was sincerely glad of it all and that the loyal spirit, which up to this time had been in hiding in the city, now held sway.
“What would the late Mrs. Rettig say! Too bad she had not lived to see this day!” and her glance fell on the picture of the unknown, sacrificing patriot, Pater George.
And how her home became famous! She almost blushed for joy when Márinka rushed in to
